Improvement in railway switches



B.` HALL.

Railway Switches.

N0l 140,915, Patentedjuly15,1873.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVIEMENT IN RAILWAY SWITCHES.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 140,915, dated July 15, 1873 application 4filed May 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN HALL, of

` the city and county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being 'hereby had to the annexed drawing making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference thereon vare not shown.

, Like letters of like kind refer to like parts.

As railroad switches are at present constructed it is difcult to operate them eEectually. The customary method has been to slide the switch-rails into the desired position by means of a force applied directly and continuously in a lateral direction until the movement is effected, the switch-rails meanwhile being supported along their entire length. Operated thus, the movement of the -switch-rails ceases as soon as the operator ceases his efforts. As a consequence, it is found in practice that, instead of being put squarely inposition, the switch-rails are, often from carelessness orother cause, left more or less out of line with either the main `or the side track.`

This displacement not only causes injury to the rails from the wheels of the passing trains striking the ends ofthe rails, but is the occasion of throwing the cars from the track.

To obviate this difficulty, and to provide such a mechanism as will practically insure an automatic movement of the switch-rails into line with either the main or side track in case the switch is, from carelessness or other cause, left unlocked, or in case the switchtarget becomes disconnected by" the bolts coming out of the connectingrod (which is a frequent cause of trouble) is mainly the object of my invention.` ,y A further object is not only to insure the placing of the switch-rails directly opposite either the main or sidetrack, but also to hold them securely when in position. An additional purpose is to diminish the amount of force necessary to operate the switch. It consists mainly in the peculiar means used in supporting the loose ends of the switch-rails during thel operation of switching, substantially as hereinafter described. It further consists in the peculiar means employed for holding the switch-rails in place after being moved.

In the drawing, A A'. represent a pair of switch-rails. On the under side, and at or near the loose or head-chair end, they are respectively provided with slots a a', the positions of which are indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. B represents a-n ordinary connecting-bar, and O an ordinary switch-target. D D' represent a main track, and E E' lrepresent a side track. The side and main tracks are arranged in the usual position. F F', Figs. l, 2, and 8, represent head-chairs. They are each provided with a recess, H H, which, in A cross-section, is-V-shaped. To provide for this recess, the head-chairs 4are furnished on the underside with extensions' I I', Figs. 2 and 3. The recess H is arranged in the central portion of that part of the head-chair occupied by the switch-rail. Its width above is about equal to the distance between the rails of the main and side tracks. In each recess is arranged a toggle, J, Fig. 2. Its length is a little more than the depth of the recess H. Its lower end rests loosely in the bottom of the recess. Its upper end engages in the slot .a a' in the bottom of the switch-rail. There are openings K K' from the lower ends of the f. recesses H H', respectively, through the switchrail ends of the head-chairs. The openings inside are on a level with the bottom of the rccesses,and at their outer ends are slightly lower, as shown in Fig. '3. Between the switch-rails and those in the main and side tracks are arranged ordinary stops L L', Figs. l, 2, and 3, to prevent the rails, under the influence of heat, from interfering. On either side of the switch-rail ends of the head chairs are arranged lips m m1 m2 m3, of the ordinary shape inside to correspond to and receive the lower part` ofthe switch-rail. The length of the slots a a' is more than the width of the toggles J J', to provide for the expansion of the rails.

In operation, motion having been communicated to the switch-rails, they, by reason of their resting upon the toggles J J', are lifted from the ties so that they are supported at their ends only. The outer ends of the switchrails are fastened to the tie in the ordinary mode. In practice, owing to the length of the rail, they may be regarded as pivots. rFhe inner or loose ends of the switch-rails, by means of the toggles, are then readily swung over directly opposite the outer set of rails. In their movement they substantially' describe a circle. When at rest, they are again supported along their length. Midway, in the movement of the switch, the toggle assumes a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. When at rest, its place is indicated by the dotted lines, same ligure. l

It will be observed that, owing to the weight of the rails, and their being poised upon the toggle, which, in turn, is constructed so as to turn freely upon its bearing, the slightest inuence will, when the toggle is perpendicular, determine the movement of the switch-rails, either in one direction or the other; and, further, owing to the fact that, when the rails are on either side of the center, they are in a downward direction, it is obvious that their weight, in conjunction with the toggle, will carry them clearly over and into the proper position. For this same reason, should the switchman be careless, or should the connecting-rod, or any part of the switch-target, be out of order, the switch will, of itself, find a connection either with the main or side track.

When once in position, owing to the position of the toggle, the switch cannot, by any jarring of passing cars, be moved laterally. The lips m m1, Ste., prevent any upward movement. Should any dirt fall into the recesses H H', it will work ont through the openings K K'. rllhe operation of switching is facilitated by thelifting of the rails from the ties.

A modification of the arrangement of the toggle is to pivot it to the side of the headblock, instead of' resting it in the head-chair. y

Instead also of using recesses in the under side of the switch-rails, the toggles, near their upper ends, may be pivoted to the connectingbar. I prefer, however, the construction first above described.

Having described myinvention, wha-t I claim as new therein1 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The switch-rails A A', provided with the recesses a a', the head-chairs F F, constructed as described, the toggles J J', the main tracks D D', and side tracks E E', combined, arranged, and operating substantially as described and shown.

2. rlhe head-chairs F F', provided with the lips m m1, Ste., and toggles J J, combined, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The head-chairs F F', provided with the openings K K', constructed and arranged as and for the purpose shown.

BENJAMIN HALL.

Titnessesz JOHN J. SQUIRE, SAML. S. BOYD. 

